Is your country at risk of becoming a dictatorship? Here's how to know | Farida Nabourema

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: JIAWEN ZHANG

A few weeks ago,

幾週前，

somebody tweeted during the midterm elections in the United States

在美國中期選舉期間, 有人用推特發文，

that Election Day should be made a holiday.

說選舉日應該要放假。

And I retweeted, saying,

我回推，說：

"Well, you're welcome to come to my country and vote.

「歡迎你來我的國家投票。

You'll get the whole week off to allow the military to count it."

你可以放一整週的假， 讓軍隊來計票。」

I come from Togo, by the way.

順便一提，我來自多哥。

It is a beautiful country located in West Africa.

它是個美麗的國家，位在西非。

There are some cool, interesting facts about my country.

我的國家有一些很酷 且很有趣的狀況。

Togo has been ruled by the same family for 51 years,

多哥已經被同一個家族 統治了五十一年，

making us the oldest autocracy in Africa.

這表示我們是非洲 最長的獨裁統治國家。

That's a record.

那是一項記錄。

We have a second-coolest record:

我們還有一項第二酷的記錄：

we have been ranked three times as the unhappiest country on earth.

我們有三次被評為： 地球上最不快樂的國家。

You are all invited.

歡迎各位來我的國家。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So just to let you know,

只是想告訴各位，

it's not very cool to live under an autocracy.

在獨裁統治之下生活 不是件很酷的事。

But the interesting thing is that I have met, throughout the course of my activism,

但有趣的是，在我參與 激進主義的過程中，

我見到好多來自不同國家的人，

so many people from different countries,

我跟他們提到多哥時， 他們的反應總是：

and when I tell them about Togo, their reaction is always,

"How can you guys allow the same people to terrorize you for 51 years?

「你們怎麼能夠允許同一批人， 對你們進行恐怖統治五十一年？

You know, like, you Togolese, you must be very patient."

你們多哥人是很有耐心 還是怎樣？」

That's their diplomatic way of saying "stupid."

他們是在用圓滑的方式說「愚蠢」。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And when you live in a free country,

當你生活在一個自由國家，

there's this tendency of assuming that those who are oppressed

通常會假設那些被壓迫的人

tolerate their oppression or are comfortable with it,

可以容忍那些壓迫， 或是已經適應了，

and democracy is projected as a progressive form of governance

而民主被推斷為 一種先進的治理形式，

in such a way that those people who don't live under democratic countries

彷彿那些住在非民主國家的人

are seen as people who are not intellectually or maybe morally

會被視為是在智力上或道德上

as advanced as others.

不如其他人先進。

But it's not the case.

但並不是這樣的。

The reason why people have that perception

大家會有那樣的感受 ，

has to do with the way stories are covered about dictatorships.

是受到關於獨裁主義的故事所影響。

In the course of my activism,

在我參與激進主義的過程中，

I have had to interview with so many news outlets out there,

我和許多新聞媒體做過訪談，

and usually it would always start with, "What got you started?

通常訪談總是這樣開頭： 「是什麼讓你開始的？

What inspired you?"

是什麼鼓舞了你？」

And I reply, "I wasn't inspired. I was triggered."

我會回：「我沒有受到鼓舞。 我是被觸發的。」

And it goes on. "Well, what triggered you?"

對話會繼續下去。 「是什麼觸發了你？」

And I go on about how my father was arrested when I was 13, and tortured,

我會接著說我十三歲時 父親被逮捕、嚴刑逼供的事情，

all the history ... I don't want to get into details now,

還有所有的歷史…… 我現在不想說細節，

因為你們會開始睡覺。

because you'll start sleeping.

But the thing is, at the end of the day, what interests them the most is:

但，重點是，到頭來， 他們最感興趣的是：

How was he tortured?

他是怎麼被嚴刑？

For how many days? How many people died?

持續了多少天？有多少人喪命？

They are interested in the abuse, in the killing,

他們感興趣的是虐待，是殺戮，

because they believe that will gain attention and sympathy.

因為他們相信那些題材 能吸引到注意力和同情心。

But in reality, it serves the purpose of the dictator.

然而現實上，

這正順應了獨裁者的目的。

It helps them advertise their cruelty.

那麼做便宣揚了他們的殘酷。

In 2011, I cofounded a movement I call "Faure Must Go,"

2011 年，我合夥創立了一個運動， 我稱之為「福雷下台」，

because Faure is the first name of our president.

因為福雷是我們總統的名字。

Togo is a French-speaking country, by the way,

順道一提，多哥是說法語的國家，

but I chose English because I had my issues with France as well.

但我選擇英文， 因為我對法國也有些意見。

But then --

但，接著——

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

But then, when I started Faure Must Go,

但當我開始「福雷下台」行動時，

I made a video, and I came on camera,

我做了一支影片，我站到攝影機前，

and I said, "Well, Faure Gnassingbé, I give you 60 days to resign as president,

我說：「福雷納辛貝， 我給你六十天辭去總統職務，

because if you don't,

因為，如果你不辭，

we the youth in Togo will organize and we will bring you down,

我們多哥的年輕人 會組織起來，把你拉下台，

because you have killed over 500 of our countrymen

因為你已經殺害了 至少五百名我們的同胞，

to seize power when your father died.

以在你父親過世時取得權力。

We have not chosen you.

我們沒有選擇你。

You are an imposter, and we will remove you."

你是冒名頂替，我們會趕走你。」

But I was the only known face of the movement.

但在那項運動中， 我是唯一公開的面孔，

Why? Because I was the only stupid one.

為什麼？因為我是唯一的笨蛋。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

And the backlashes followed.

接著就造成強烈的反對。

My family started receiving threats.

我的家人開始受到各種威脅。

My siblings called me one morning.

有一天，我的手足打電話給我。

They said, "You know what?

他們說：「你知道嗎？

When they come here to kill you, we don't want to die with you,

如果他們來這裡殺你， 我們不想跟你一起死，

so move out."

所以，搬出去吧。」

So yes, I moved out.

所以，是的，我搬出去了。

And I'm so angry at them, so I haven't talked to them in five years.

我對他們很生氣， 五年都不跟他們說話。

Anyway, moving forward ...

總之，繼續下去……

For the past nine years, I have been working with countries

過去九年間，

我和許多國家合作，

to raise awareness of Togo,

提升大家對於多哥的意識，

to help the people of Togo overcome their fear

來協助多哥人民克服他們的恐懼，

so they, too, can come and say they want change.

這樣他們才能夠也站出來 說他們想要改變。

I have received a lot of persecution

我已經受到了很多

that I cannot disclose,

我無法公開的迫害，

a lot of threats, a lot of abuse,

各種威脅，各種虐待，

psychologically.

精神上的。

But I don't like talking about them,

但我不想要談它們，

because I know that my job as an activist is to mobilize,

因為我知道，身為激進分子， 我的工作是要動員，

is to organize,

是要組織，

is to help every single Togolese citizen understand that, as citizens,

是要協助每一位多哥公民了解，

身為公民，我們持有權力，

we hold the power,

we are the boss and we decide.

我們是老闆，我們能做決定。

And the punishment that the dictators are using to intimidate them

獨裁者用來脅迫他們的手段

must not prevent us from getting what we want.

不應該阻止我們得到想要的。

That is why I said it is very important to cover the stories of activists

那就是為什麼我推崇： 在報導激進分子的故事時，

in the way that it helps mobilize people,

要用能動員大家的方式來報導，

not in the way that it helps deter their action

而不是以威嚇他們行動的方式，

and force even more their subjugation to the oppressive system.

迫使他們更屈從於壓迫的體制。

During these years that I've been an activist,

在我身為激進分子的這些年間，

there are days that I felt like quitting because I couldn't take it.

有些時候我也好想放棄， 因為我無法承受了。

Well then, what kept me going?

那，是什麼讓我繼續下去？

The one thing that kept me going:

讓我繼續下去的其中一項動力：

I remember the story of my grandfather,

我記得我祖父的故事，

and how he used to walk 465 miles from his village to the city,

也記得他曾經走了 465 英里路 從他的村落到城市，

just to protest for independence.

只是為了獨立而抗議。

Then I remember the sacrifice of my father,

我還想起我父親的犧牲，

who was tortured so many times

因為他敢於對政權抗爭，

for daring to protest against the regime.

所以他被拷問了好多次。

Back in the '70s, they would write pamphlets

回到 70 年代，他們會寫小冊子，

to raise awareness on the dictatorship,

增加大家對獨裁統治的意識，

and because they couldn't afford to make copies,

因為他們沒錢去印製，

they would reproduce the same pamphlet 500 times each

他們便重複抄寫 500 次，

and distribute them.

然後拿去分發。

It got to a point where the military knew their handwriting,

以至於軍隊也認得他們的筆跡。

so as soon as they stumbled upon one, they'd go and get them.

所以只要他們發現這些傳單， 就會去抓他們。

But I look at that and I'm like, you know, today you have a blog.

但，對於這個狀況， 我心想，現今有博客了。

I don't have to copy the same thing 500 times.

我不用複製五百份。

I blog and thousands of people read it.

我撰寫博客，就會有數千人閱讀。

By the way, in Togo, they like calling me the WhatsApp girl,

順便一提，在多哥， 他們稱為我 WhatsApp 女孩，

because I am always on WhatsApp attacking the government.

因為我總是在 WhatsApp 上攻擊政府。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

So it's much easier.

所以，現在簡單多了。

When I'm angry at the government, I just make an angry note,

當我對政府很生氣時， 我就寫下憤怒的文字，

and I send it out and thousands of people share it.

我會把它發出去，便有數千人分享。

I'm rarely this composed. I'm always angry, by the way.

我很少這麼鎮定，我總是很生氣。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

So I was talking about the necessity to showcase our stories,

我要說的是，我們要把 我們的故事展現出來，

because when I think about the sacrifices that were made for us,

因為當我談到別人 為我們所做出的犧牲時，

it helped me keep going.

那能夠協助我堅持下去。

One of the very first actions of our Faure Must Go movement

我們的「福雷下台」 最初的行動之一，

was to come up with a petition, asking citizens to sign

是提出一項請願，請公民來簽署，

so that we can demand new elections, as the constitution allows.

讓我們可以依憲法規定 來要求新的選舉。

People were scared to put their names

大家都很怕寫下自己的名字，

because, they said, they don't want to get in trouble.

因為，他們說，他們不想惹麻煩。

Even in the diaspora, people were scared.

即使是在海外的人，他們也會怕。

They were like, "We have family at home."

他們說：「我們在家鄉還有家人。」

But there was this woman who was in her 60s.

但，有一位六十多歲的女子。

When she heard about it, she took the petition,

她聽說這件事時，她帶走了請願書，

and she went home,

她回到家後，

and by herself she collected over 1,000 [signatures].

靠她自己就收集到了 超過一千個簽署。

That inspired me so much, and I was like,

那對我是好大的鼓勵，我心想，

if a 60-year-old that has nothing more to gain in this regime

如果一個六十歲，已經無法 從這個政體中獲得什麼的人，

can do this for us, the young ones,

還願意為我們年輕人這樣做，

then why should I quit?

那我怎能放棄？

It is the stories of resistance, the stories of defiance,

正是那些抵抗、反抗、

the stories of resilience,

堅毅不拔的故事，

that inspire people to get involved,

鼓舞大家參與，

not the stories of abuse and killings and hurt,

而非虐待、殺戮和傷害的故事，

because as humans, it's only natural for us to be scared.

因為害怕是人性的弱點。

I would like to share with you a few characteristics of dictatorships

我想要和各位分享 獨裁統治的幾項特性，

so that you can assess your own country

讓你們可以評估你們自己的國家，

and see if you are also at risk of joining us.

看看你是否有可能會加入我們。

(Laughter and cheers)

（笑聲和歡呼）

(Applause)

（掌聲）

Number one thing to look at: concentration of power.

首先要看的事：權力集中。

Is the power in your country concentrated in the hands of a few, an elite?

你的國家的權力是否集中在 少數人或一位菁英的手中？

It can be a political elite, ideological elite.

可能是政治菁英、思想領袖。

And you have a strongman,

且你們有一個鐵腕人物，

because we always have one guy who is presented as the messiah

因為總是會有個傢伙， 以救世主之姿出現，

who will save us from the world.

要將我們從世界拯救出來。

The second point is propaganda.

第二點是宣傳。

Dictators feed on propaganda.

獨裁者要靠宣傳來維生。

They like giving the impression that they are the saviors,

他們喜歡製造他們是救星的印象，

and without them, the country will fall apart.

若沒有他們，國家就會四分五裂。

And they are always fighting some foreign forces, you know?

他們總是在對抗著某些外來的力量。

The Christians, the Jewish, the Muslims,

基督徒、猶太人、穆斯林、

the voodoo priests are coming for you.

要來抓你的巫毒祭師。

The Communists, when they get here, we'll all be broke.

共產黨，當他們到來時， 我們都會完蛋。

These kinds of things.

這類事物。

And our president, in particular, he fights pirates.

而我們的總統很特別， 他對抗的是海盜。

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

I am very serious.

我是說真的。

Last year, he bought a boat that's 13 million dollars to fight pirates,

去年，他花了一千三百萬美金 買了一艘船來對抗海盜，

and 60 percent of our people are starving.

而六成的人民沒飯吃。

So they are always protecting us from some foreign forces.

所以，他們總是在保護我們 不受外來勢力的侵犯。

And this leads to point three: militarization.

這就帶出了第三點：軍事化。

Dictators survive by instigating fear,

獨裁者的生存方式是煽動恐懼，

and they use the military to suppress dissident voices,

他們用軍隊來壓迫意見不同的聲音，

even though they try to give the impression

不過他們試圖製造的印象

that the military is to protect the nation.

是軍隊在保護國家。

And they suppress institutions and destroy them

他們會打壓和摧毀制度，

so that they don't have to be held accountable.

這樣他們就不用負責。

So do you have a heavily militarized country?

你們的國家是重度武裝的國家嗎？

And this leads to point four, what I call human cruelty.

這就帶出第四點， 我稱之為人類虐待。

You know when we talk about animals,

當我們談論動物時，

we say animal cruelty when animals are abused,

當動物被傷害， 我們會說動物虐待，

because there's no charter acknowledged by the UN

因為聯合國沒有，

saying animal rights charter.

任何認可動物權利憲章。

Point one: all animals are created equal. So you don't have that.

第一點：動物生而平等。 而你們並沒有這一點。

So whenever animals are abused, we say animal cruelty.

所以，當動物被傷害時， 我們會說動物虐待。

But when it comes to humans, we say human rights abuses,

但就人類的情況來說， 我們會說人權侵害，

because we assume that all humans have rights.

因為我們假設所有人類都有權利。

But some of us are actually still fighting for our right to have rights.

但有些人仍然在為 「擁有權利」的權利而戰。

So in that condition, I don't talk about human rights abuse or violation.

所以，在那樣的情況下， 我不會談侵害或違反人權。

When you live in a country and you have an issue with the president

當你生活的國家 擁有與你不同意見的總統，

and the worst thing that can happen is he bans you from the presidency,

而最糟糕的狀況是 在他任期內不讓你出來選總統，

you are lucky.

那你很幸運。

When you come to my country and have an issue with the president,

在我的國家，若對總統有意見，

你就得逃跑、消失；從人間蒸發，

you just run, disappear; you vanish from the universe,

因為他們仍然會在土耳其找到你。

because they can still find you in Turkey.

So people like myself, we don't get to live in Togo anymore.

所以，像我這樣的人， 我們不能再住在多哥。

And people like myself,

像我這樣的人，

we don't get to live in the same place for more than a month,

不能在同一個地方住超過一個月，

因為我們不想要被追蹤。

because we don't want to be traced.

他們傷害人民的方式，

The way they abuse people,

the type of cruelty that happens in all impunity under dictatorships

在獨裁統治下，那種可以 不受懲罰的情況下而進行的虐待，

are beyond human imagination.

是超乎人類想像的。

The stories of some of the activists that were killed,

有些被殺害的激進分子，

their bodies dumped in the sea,

他們的屍體被丟入海中，

that were tortured

他們被用刑，

to the point where they lost their hearing or their sight --

而導致失明或失聰——

those stories still haunt me.

那些故事在我心頭揮之不去。

And sometimes, as an activist,

有時，身為激進分子，

I am less concerned about dying than how it will happen.

比起死亡會如何發生， 我比較不在乎死亡本身。

Sometimes I just sit down and I imagine all scenarios.

有時，我會坐下來，想像各種情境。

What are they going to do? Are they going to cut my ears first?

他們會怎麼做？他們會 先把我的耳朵割下來嗎？

Or are they going to cut my tongue because I'm always insulting them?

或者他們會割掉我的舌頭， 因為我總是在侮辱他們？

It sounds cruel, but it is the reality.

聽起來很殘酷，但那是現實。

We live in a very cruel world.

我們生活在一個殘酷的世界中。

Dictators are cruel monsters,

獨裁者是殘酷的禽獸，

and I am not saying it to be nice.

我不是為了扮演好人才這麼說的。

So yes, that is the final characteristic.

所以，是的，那是最後一項特性。

The list goes on,

這份清單還很長，

but that's the final thing that I want to share about autocracies,

但那是我想與各位分享的 最後一項獨裁政治特性，

so that you look at your country and see if there are risks there.

所以，看看你的國家， 找找有沒有風險存在。

很重要的是，你要感謝 你現今擁有的自由，

It is important that you acknowledge the gains of freedom that you have today,

because some people had to give their lives for you to have it.

因為有些人犧牲了生命 才讓你擁有自由。

不要把它視為理所當然。

So don't take this for granted.

But then at the same time, you also need to know

但，同時，你也需要知道，

that no country is actually destined to be oppressed,

沒有任何國家註定要被壓迫，

while at the same time,

同時，

no country or no people are immune to oppression and dictatorship.

也沒有國家或人民 能不受壓迫和獨裁的影響。

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）